Shocking treatment of a former soldier..

[memory man]

Soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan can't receive hospital treatment in England 'because he's Scottish'

"I am sitting here without my legs because I fought for this country"

A Scottish soldier who lost both his legs while serving for the British Army in Afghanistan has been told he can no longer continue to receive specialist treatment in England.

Lance Corporal Callum Brown said staff at the Queen Elizabeth Birmingham Trust hospital, which houses experts in amputee and veteran care, said NHS England could no longer provide funding.

The 28-year-old, from the west coast Scottish town of Ayr, was injured by a bomb blast during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011 and airlifted home.

However during his latest visit, he told the Daily Record: “When I was down there, a senior member of staff told me that he was ashamed to say that they could no longer treat me there.

“He said it was because the English NHS would no longer foot the bill for me there since I wasn’t from England.

“I am sitting here without my legs because I fought for this country. This is the ultimate slap in the face. I am still in shock and can barely get my head around it.”

The soldier, who said he remained in “constant pain”, had been forced to conduct his wedding to then girlfriend Laura Taylor at the hospital as a result of his poor health.

NHS sources told The Independent that in cases where a patient is not residing in England, but in another UK country, hospitals are required to apply for funding from that country.

A statement from the NHS trust which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham said it had “arranged for two more follow-up appointments for Mr Brown in order to determine the effectiveness of his latest cycle of treatment.

“If he needs further treatment within the Trust we would need to seek pre-approved funding from NHS Scotland,” the trust said.

Mr Brown has previously admitted to breaking the law and taking cannabis, which he insists helps with the pain, exacerbated by the fact that he has no skin on his posterior.

“I shouldn’t have to be a criminal to get something that eases my pain and makes life easier.”

He fears that if he isn’t given the specialist treatment at Queen Elizabeth – which has experts specific to his injuries – he might “end up dead.”

“We are supposed to be living in the United Kingdom; it feels more like the disunited kingdom.”

http://ind.pn/2v3eerG

[Dominic]

Disgusting. It would be disgusting if he was any UK resident. The fact that he is a vet is even worse.

[trevnhil]

I agree, this is disgraceful..

[WHL]

Words fail me

[Firefly]

I cannot believe I'm reading this. The NHS in England treat non English speaking immigrants, so how on earth they can refuse this soldier treatment is beyond me. I think he has a case for a legal fight for Racial discrimination !!

Jackie

[June]

I'm no expert but if this lad is registered with a practice in Scotland surely he comes under the umbrella of NHS (Scotland).
Scotland has devolved powers which includes the NHS? There has been no suggestion that NHS (Scotland) will not fund further treatment.
It's the Daily Record at it's worst..

[Miloman]

The media as always, is reporting this wrong. This is not the fault of the NHS nor the English government. Scotland has devolved powers re NHS funding ie Scotland receives all the funding for NHS Scotland. If this patient requires specialist treatment in England that Scotland cannot provide, it has to be funded by Scotland. It is not clear if the application has been made for this funding or if it has been refused.